David (Dave) Elkins Knowles, 80, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2021 in Waugh Chapel, MD.
Dave was born to Peter & Isabelle Knowles in Charlotte, North Carolina and grew-up in Alexandria, VA. He graduated from George Washington High School in 1959. After high school he briefly attended Randolph Macon College, before being drafted into the US Army Reserves. While in the reserves, he worked at the Potomac Electric Power Company as a fleet mechanic. It was at PEPCO where he noticed a recruitment flyer for the Prince George’s County Police Department. Upon seeing this flyer, he felt the call to serve his community. He completed training and successfully made it onto the force.
While employed at PEPCO, he met his first wife, MaryAnn Appuglies who also worked with him. After several years of marriage, they would have a son, Christopher. Ten years later, they would divorce. Dave continued to work on the police department for nineteen (19) years before ultimately retiring in 1986. In retirement, he took on a job delivering coffee for a local vending company. It was there, through mutual friends he met the love of his life, Barbara Howard. He brought to the relationship his son, bonus daughter, Rachele combining his family with Barbara’s two children, Travis and Shelly. The two would wed in April, 2009 and spent every possible moment on their boat with family and friends on the Potomac River near Colton Point, Maryland.
Dave enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow and was thrilled to welcome his eight (8) great-grandchildren. He was also an avid fan of the Washington Nationals and couldn’t have been happier to witness their world series win in 2019.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Knowles; son Christopher Knowles and wife Kristina Knowles, his bonus daughter, Rachele Donohue and husband Jeff Donohue; step-son, Travis Howard and wife Stacy Howard; and step-son-in-law, Danny Cusic; eight (8) grandchildren, Skylar Knowles, Selah Knowles, Janson Knowles, Micah Knowles; Monica Donohue, Jeffrey Donohue, David Donohue and Katy Staples. He also has six (6) step-grandchildren, Alyssa, Riki, Alexa, Ashley, Ryleigh and Justin; and eight (8) great-grandchildren, Ethan, Margot, Rowan, Kellen, Lilah, Silas, Kinlee and Annabelle. He was preceded in death by his step-daughter Michelle “Shelly” Cusic in 2020.
The family will Celebrate Dave’s Life on Sunday, February 21, 2021 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at 27108 Mt Zion Church Rd, Mechanicsville, MD 20659. Interment will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, the family would request donations be made in Dave’s name to the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 89 in Prince George’s County (fop89.org) or the Disabled American Veteran’s Charity (dav.org).
Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com
All arrangements have been made at Brinsfield Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622
